Tag Archives: Christianity

No Land, No Problem: The Inheritance of the Lord

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Joshua 13:33 – “But to the tribe of Levi Moses gave no inheritance; the Lord God of Israel is their inheritance, just as he said to them.”

Imagine showing up to a family reading of the will, eager to find out which piece of property or heirloom you’ll receive, only to hear the executor say, “And for you—nothing. Except… the Lord.”

At first glance, this may sound like a raw deal. In Joshua 13, as the Promised Land is being divided up among the tribes of Israel, there’s an awkward moment when the tribe of Levi gets passed over. Everyone else receives territory—cities, fields, pastureland. The Levites? Not a square inch. Their portion is the Lord Himself.

And that changes everything.

The Levites were called to serve in the presence of the Lord—offering sacrifices, teaching the Law, and maintaining the worship of Israel. Their lives were wrapped up in the worship of God, and in return, God made a staggering promise: “I will be your inheritance.”

It’s worth asking: who really got the better portion? The tribes got land—but land with boundaries, with enemies to fight off, with thorns and thistles to till. The Levites got the Lord—no boundaries, no threat, no decay. The land could be lost. The Lord never would be.

The Blessing of a Better Inheritance

This idea echoes throughout Scripture. Psalm 16:5 says, “The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.” And again in Lamentations 3:24, “The Lord is my portion, says my soul, therefore I will hope in him.”

This wasn’t just for the Levites. It’s for all who belong to God. Peter calls believers “a royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9), echoing the idea that our true inheritance isn’t in wealth or property, but in knowing and being known by the Lord of Heaven.

It’s easy—especially in a world that measures success by what we own—to forget this. We envy those who’ve built big homes, secured their retirement, or collected shiny things. And while those blessings are not evil in themselves, they are fleeting. They are, at best, the wrapping paper on the gift—not the gift itself.

The true inheritance—the one that cannot be taken away, cannot rust or rot, and cannot disappoint—is the Lord.

The Joy of Serving the Lord

For the Levites, there was a cost in following God. They left behind worldly security and the comforts of a settled life. But in exchange, they lived in the presence of God. They were witnesses to His grace and instruments of His mercy. They were poor in property, but rich in the privilege of serving the Most High.

Christian, this is your calling, too.

To serve the Lord is not a lesser life. It is not a consolation prize. It is the blessed life—because He is the portion of your soul. Whatever your profession, whatever your place in this world, you have the privilege of living every day with the Lord as your inheritance. You walk with Him. You speak to Him. You are filled with His Spirit, taught by His Word, and held by His love.

There is no higher calling. No richer inheritance.

So if you find yourself feeling like you’ve missed out—if your peers are building their kingdoms while you’re just trying to be faithful—remember the Levites. They received no land. But they got the Lord. And that made all the difference.

Because to have Him is to have everything.

SDG

Dragon Slayer

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“So… what do you do all day?”

Ask any pastor and you’ll hear it: the joke that just won’t die. “You only work one day a week, right?”

Sure. Most of us just download our sermons Friday afternoon, skim them twice, and hit the pulpit Sunday morning. Easy peasy.

Truth is, I’ve often struggled to describe what pastoral ministry looks like on an average Tuesday. Some use business language: I’m a life coach, a spiritual mentor, a resident theologian. Those terms have their place, but they fall short.

Others speak more biblically and more beautifully. The pastor is a shepherd. A steward of mysteries. One who cares for souls. That’s far closer.

But recently, while reading Revelation 12, a new title jumped off the page.

You know the scene: the great red dragon — Satan himself — makes war on the woman and her offspring, “those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus” (Rev. 12:17).

That’s the Church. That’s my congregation.

That’s when it hit me.

If I ever get business new cards printed, they’re going to say:

Rev. Ethan Sayler — Dragon Slayer

Because that’s what this calling feels like.

Each day, I come to the office and prepare for battle.

I study the Word, not to collect trivia, but to preach and teach with clarity — so that God’s people are armed with truth, dressed in righteousness, and standing firm in the armor of God.

I pray for my congregation — not as a perfunctory duty, but as real intercession for real souls under real attack.

I welcome walk-ins, visit the sick and suffering, open Scripture, sing hymns, and cling to promises that crush despair.

I counsel the wayward, call for repentance, guide toward reconciliation, and walk the long road of restoration — not because it’s easy, but because Christ came to undo the works of the devil. And in Him, so do we.

Ministry isn’t just managing programs or producing content. It’s slaying dragons. Every day.

And the truth of the matter is, on my own I am not strong enough, nor equipped for such a battle. Trying to fight the beast alone is a losing battle. So I must begin each day, dying to myself and rising with my Lord, looking to the One who has defeated the enemy and will lead His people in victory.

So, no, I don’t work just one day a week. But I do work every day under the victory of the One who crushed the serpent’s head.

And that’s more than enough.

SDG